MLA 7th Edition

APA 6th Edition

Tattrie, J.. R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2014). Newfoundland and labrador and confederation.
Retrieved March 19, 2018 From http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/newfoundland-and-labrador-and-confederation/.

Chicago 16th Edition

Tattrie, Jon. "Newfoundland And Labrador And Confederation." In The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Historica Canada, 1985—. Article published December 19, 2014

Turabian

Tattrie, Jon. 2014. Newfoundland And Labrador And Confederation. The Canadian Encyclopedia
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/newfoundland-and-labrador-and-confederation/ (accessed March 19, 2018).

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

MLA 7th Edition

APA 6th Edition

, R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2014). Newfoundland and Labrador and Confederation. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/newfoundland-and-labrador-and-confederation/

Chicago 16th Edition

. "Newfoundland and Labrador and Confederation" In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, 1985–. Article published December 19, 2014. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/newfoundland-and-labrador-and-confederation/.

Turabian

. 2014. Newfoundland and Labrador and Confederation. The Canadian Encyclopedia http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/newfoundland-and-labrador-and-confederation/ (accessed March 19, 2018).

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

@cdnencyclopedia

Support The Canadian Encyclopedia

Newfoundland and Labrador and Confederation

​Newfoundland became Canada's 10th province in 1949, following a century of lukewarm interest in Confederation and a narrowly won pro-union referendum.

Newfoundland became Canada's 10th province in 1949, following a century of lukewarm interest in Confederation and a narrowly won pro-union referendum.

Beothuk and Vikings

Beothuk people were among the first in the Americas to encounter Europeans, when Vikings settled in L’Anse aux Meadows around 1000 CE. The Vikings left after a few years, and Europeans only returned in 1497 with John Cabot's mapping expedition. Britain claimed the territory in 1583.

While the Beothuk were destroyed by warfare and disease, the European population reached 140,000 by the mid-1800s. The colony was run by a British governor and an appointed council in the early 1800s, and received responsible government in 1855.

Public opinion in Newfoundland toward Confederation was mixed. Politician Charles Fox Bennett led the anti-French, anti-Confederation movement, warning of high taxes and conscription into Canadian wars. Despite his efforts, a pro-Confederation government won the Newfoundland election in 1865 but didn’t successfully pursue union with Canada.

Commission Government

The colony suffered a bank crash in the 1890s, which by 1895 led to a renewed interest in Confederation as a solution for Newfoundland's financial troubles. Canada offered less favourable financial terms than Newfoundland wanted, however, and no deal on union was reached. Support among Newfoundlanders for becoming Canadian had never been strong.

The First World War initially brought prosperity to Newfoundland, which used its new wealth to build roads, railways and send a regiment into battle. By the 1920s, however, Newfoundland was in debt — a problem made much worse by the Great Depression of the next decade. Facing bankruptcy, Newfoundland's leaders suspended responsible government in 1934 and accepted an unelected Commission Government directed by Britain.

Newfoundland became an important strategic base in the Second World War, which brought back prosperity thanks to American, British and Canadian military investment. In 1949, the colony cleared its debts and enjoyed a $40-million surplus.

Confederation Debate

In 1946, an elected National Convention was created to examine the colony's political future. For two years, a vigorous debate ensued over whether to continue with the Commission Government, join Canada or seek a return to responsible government as an independent dominion.

A bitterly fought referendum campaign ensued, led on the Confederation side by Convention member Joseph Smallwood, who argued that Canada would raise living standards for Newfoundlanders. The Confederation option was also encouraged by Britain.

In the referendum of June 1948, the responsible government option received 44.6 per cent of votes, Confederation received 41.1 per cent and the Commission Government option received 14.3 per cent. A month later a run-off vote was held between responsible government and Confederation, and Confederation won with 52.3 per cent support.

10th Province

Canada was eager to bring Newfoundland into Confederation, partly out of fears that the United States, with a large military presence there, would one day take possession of the territory. Smallwood led a team to Ottawa to negotiate the terms of entry with Prime Minister Mackenzie King. The British and Canadian parliaments approved of the terms of merger, and on 31 March 1949, Newfoundland became Canada’s 10th province. Smallwood was elected its first premier.

In 2001, the province's name was officially changed to Newfoundland and Labrador.